I am proud to present you the L-10 Soko (Falcon). It is a multi-role jet fighter aircraft of 4+ generation, capable of Mach 2.2 speeds (on high altitude and without ordnance), and super-cruise of Mach 1.1 (also without ordnance but on sea level). Being highly maneuverable and versatile it is ideal for the air forces of countries which do not have the need or money to buy all the different types of aircraft to perform all the tasks set before the air force...

Okay, enough of the marketing & tech babble, let's get to walk-around. It's going to be a long one, so bare with me.

The above image shows the aircraft in display with all the ordnance it was designed to carry.

Now you are wondering: "What's with all the red stuff?" Well, that's those "remove before flight" thingies, which are used to protect sensitive parts of the aircraft, like engines, air intakes etc. If you don't remove them before flight the aircraft crashes - that's why they are coloured in bright red. Also, you can notice the "brakes" next to the wheels that are used to secure our expensive toy from taking a hike.

Okay, finally to the list of changes that I've made. First I've removed the canards because they were in the way of the air intakes for the engines. It's a very bad idea to disturb the air flow of the only thing that's keeping you in the air. Then I've added a pitot tube (the antenna on the nose), antenna just behind the cockpit (I really like that one), and Rafale-style refueling pod. No, it doesn't retract to reduce the maintenance cost. I've also lowered the seats one stud down in order for the minifigures to fit in with their helmets on.

Notice the air intakes? They looked rather dull, so I decided to make them look better.

Next, F-16-style air brakes. Also, the oddly placed dark gray cheese slope is there to represent a nifty feature of this aircraft. It is a thrust-reverser, and it is used to shorten the needed runway length during landing. This feature is actually making it a STOL aircraft, AND it is able to go into reverse. Just a note, this is neither fiction nor unique, this actually exists and was made before. Way before. Saab Viggen and Panavia Tornado have that ability.

Engine details. See what I did there?

Landing gear retracting procedure. I wanted to have functioning landing gear doors, and while that was relatively easy to achieve with the back landing gear it wasn't so with the front. Not wanting to lose the precious centerline position for the drop tank, I had to redesign the front landing gear. It now has two joints and is a bit difficult to fold inside but it works.

Now, you might have noticed that the aircraft is not quite symmetric. That's because I absolutely had to include a cannon. The problem was where to put it. There were several good positions further forward and around the air intakes, but that would mean that all the vapors from the cannon fire would get sucked into the engine which is definitely not a good idea.

Close up on the gun and a cutaway view.

Here's a view of the 30 mm cannon out of it's cave. If you are wondering why is there a wheel attached to the side of it, the answer is that it is the ammo magazine.

The cockpit. Notice the HUD and the side panels.

Single seat version. Don't worry, all the parts needed for quick and easy conversion are included in the LDD file.

Right, here we have it in a typical CAP (combat air patrol) mission, with four radar guided missiles and, if those fail, two heat seeking missiles on wing tips.

And here we have some mixed ordnance. We can see two radar guided missiles on the outer fuselage, two heat seeking missiles on wingtips, two very large green laser guided bombs, and next to them a pair of HARM (high speed anti-radiation) missiles to seek out and destroy any SAM targeting this metal bird. Also, a small white laser targeting pod on the fuselage.

One ridiculous armament option with twelve general purpose bombs.

Finally, the armament option for Electronic warfare. Two electronic counter-measure pods are so big that I had to remove the "pylons" and place them directly on the fuselage.

Full afterburner. "... highway to the danger zone..." :whistling:

Different angle with the afterburner.

And another shot, this time with a single seat version. For those of you with a keen eye, yes the pilot is wearing different type of helmet with an experimental helmet mounted system enabling it to lock on and fire a missile without having to turn the whole aircraft towards the target. Hence the big black visor.

I couldn't resist making a first prototype. It is quite different from the final model, as you can see for yourself.

And now, I have something special for you. Since I really enjoyed making this one I took the extra time making it in several different paint schemes of various air forces. Here they are:

Fuerza Aerea Argentina. The inspiration for this paint scheme was IA 63 Pampa in service with the FAA.

Fuerza Aerea del Peru. This is paint scheme of Peruvian MiG-29s.

Hellenic Air Force. Greek F-16 and Mirage 2000 inspired paint scheme.

Japanese Air Self-Defense Force. Some of the Mitsubishi F-2 use this paint scheme, but the colours in LDD are not quite right.

Luftwaffe. I know that Luftwaffe uses very specific markings for squadron and aircraft numbering, and that it is nothing like PA7 70 that I've placed, but I really wanted a Luftwaffe L-10 so there you have it. German Eurofighter was inspiration for this scheme.

People's Liberation Army Air force (Chinese air force). I saw some of the new J-10 painted this way.

Polish Air Force. A mixture of Polish MiG-29 and F-16 paint schemes.

Royal Air Force. First image is with low visibility markings (with all the yellow I don't know why they even bother, the brits), and second is with normal markings. They are both modeled from existing Eurofighters in service with RAF. Notice, the exact and correct position of individual aircraft markings. PA7 70 in this case is 100% correct since RAF uses a two letter, three digit system for it's aircraft markings.

South African Air Force. Modeled from Saab Gripens in their service. Roundels and flag should be grayed out, but they look better this way.

Turk Hava Kuvvetleri or Turkish air force. Paint scheme from their F-16s is applied here.

USAF. I saw some pictures of F-15s, based in Alaska I believe, that were all dark gray, and I liked it so I decided to put that paint scheme on this L-10. Notice the pilot in the cockpit. She, yes a female pilot, is in US desert pilot suit.

And last but not least

Vietnam People's Air Force. Su-30 (or 27, I'm not sure anymore) in their service was inspiration for this paint scheme. It is a very demanding paint scheme that has little similarities with this one but I really wanted to make a VPAF L-10.

All the different versions from all the air forces presented above are available in separate files on demand, including the prototype. If you want me to send you a specific file or files send me an e-mail, stating which one you want, by clicking here .

The naval version is in work and will be posted soon, so until then rate this one and comment it. If you are using it in any way, just post a link to this page please. This is the end, finally :-) , thank you for reading all the way.

Hey Milos, I was wondering, since you are so good at making aircraft, if maybe you wanted to do like a joint project or something, and maybe I can learn something from you? Anyways, if you want to, just let me know.

Looks cool! I think that for the Experimental Aircraft competition, you will be awarded (from me), 7/10 points. I love the looks and all, the only real threat to your scoring was the fact that this is a modified conversion of a lego set. Mind you, it is great, but I have to reserve it to 7/10.

Quoting Boris Pavelnov
How do you get the Heat-seeking missiles on the wingtips?

It's a bit tricky... First remove the small stick and then take the smallest missile from the original file with all the weaponry. Select and remove the back part that looks like a rocket bottom and then attach the rest of the missile. Finally, reattach the back rocket-like part this time little bit in the back. It's confusing, but I hope you understand what I mean.

Quoting Boris Pavelnov
I really like this,but I wasn't able to contact your email.

Sorry for the late response, just right click where it says "here" and then click "copy e-mail address". Paste it in a new e-mail message window and I will send you whatever aircraft you are interested in. Cheers!

Yeah this and your navy version are really worth to build it in real! Great moc and presentation!

I like it

Chris Melby

February 4, 2012

I don't know what to say here, from the exquisite high res picture presentation, to the perfect choice of cockpit canopy cover, to the perfect design, and final touches like the wheel chocks, you have truly created a masterpiece. 5/5, kick back and give yourself a high 5 on this build, you deserve it! Chris

Quoting SuperSpy X
I saw what the model was copied and modded from that set from the thumbnail, even before you said it. Also, the red "brakes" are actually called "wheel chocks" and the cannon on the right side would tear into the air intake housing if shot.

I didn't know what was the English word for it, thanks for clearing that out. And about the cannon... I know that, but come on, where else to put it? :-) Some imagination is not harmful. Thanks for the comment though.

I saw what the model was copied and modded from that set from the thumbnail, even before you said it. Also, the red "brakes" are actually called "wheel chocks" and the cannon on the right side would tear into the air intake housing if shot.